Published: Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 12:22 a.m.

Much-needed upgrades to keep Terrebonne General Medical Center’s water network and the surrounding area online in the event of a major storm are nearing completion, water officials said.

“The majority of the project is almost complete,” said Michael Sobert, Consolidated Waterworks District No. 1 general manager. “We have one segment left to complete on Verret Street.”

During Hurricane Gustav in 2008, heavy winds uprooted trees in downtown Houma, breaking pipes that were part of the hospital’s main water line.

The result was the inability to get water service to the hospital and about 3,000 customers in the surrounding area.

Sobert said these upgrades will prevent similar interruptions from happening.

The $1 million project, paid for by a federal grant, involves repairing and replacing pipes and valves throughout the city limits.

Consolidated Waterworks has gone through Houma’s water network and essentially tightened up the system, Sobert said, which resulted in about 20 new valves being installed.

Some of those old valves date back to the early 1930s, Sobert said.

Those old pipes were made of cast iron, terra-cotta and other obsolete materials. Also, , the pipes were smaller than what’s needed for a growing population.

The project is important, Sobert said, because now if a water line breaks in the area, the water district can isolate certain valves and direct the flow of water as needed.

Waterworks Plant Superintendent Michael LeCompte said the old valves didn’t have that capability before.

“This way you can be assured the hospital can be the first to get their water back,” he said. “It will provide them a very reliable first response to get water back in the city. We can isolate the valves to keep the hospital online and get them water back with good pressure and good flow. And they have some critical services that need water.”

Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO of Terrebonne General Medical Center, commended Consolidated Waterworks for the update.

“We appreciate the proactive approach that the Consolidate Waterworks District 1 of Terrebonne Parish has taken to update their system to ensure Terrebonne General Medical Center is able to provide safe water being distributed to the hospital in times of emergencies,” she said. LeCompte said phase one is pretty much done and phase two, which involves upgrading the rest of Houma’s water network, will be complete by summer.

There are still about 170 breaks in large and small lines throughout the parish, including 35 main lines.

Those main pipes are responsible for the bulk of water flow from Houma to the less-populated parts of Terrebonne Parish.

<p>Much-needed upgrades to keep Terrebonne General Medical Center's water network and the surrounding area online in the event of a major storm are nearing completion, water officials said. </p><p>“The majority of the project is almost complete,” said Michael Sobert, Consolidated Waterworks District No. 1 general manager. “We have one segment left to complete on Verret Street.”</p><p>During Hurricane Gustav in 2008, heavy winds uprooted trees in downtown Houma, breaking pipes that were part of the hospital's main water line. </p><p>The result was the inability to get water service to the hospital and about 3,000 customers in the surrounding area. </p><p>Sobert said these upgrades will prevent similar interruptions from happening. </p><p>The $1 million project, paid for by a federal grant, involves repairing and replacing pipes and valves throughout the city limits. </p><p>Consolidated Waterworks has gone through Houma's water network and essentially tightened up the system, Sobert said, which resulted in about 20 new valves being installed. </p><p>Some of those old valves date back to the early 1930s, Sobert said. </p><p>Those old pipes were made of cast iron, terra-cotta and other obsolete materials. Also, , the pipes were smaller than what's needed for a growing population. </p><p>The project is important, Sobert said, because now if a water line breaks in the area, the water district can isolate certain valves and direct the flow of water as needed. </p><p>Waterworks Plant Superintendent Michael LeCompte said the old valves didn't have that capability before. </p><p>“This way you can be assured the hospital can be the first to get their water back,” he said. “It will provide them a very reliable first response to get water back in the city. We can isolate the valves to keep the hospital online and get them water back with good pressure and good flow. And they have some critical services that need water.”</p><p>Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO of Terrebonne General Medical Center, commended Consolidated Waterworks for the update. </p><p>“We appreciate the proactive approach that the Consolidate Waterworks District 1 of Terrebonne Parish has taken to update their system to ensure Terrebonne General Medical Center is able to provide safe water being distributed to the hospital in times of emergencies,” she said. LeCompte said phase one is pretty much done and phase two, which involves upgrading the rest of Houma's water network, will be complete by summer. </p><p>There are still about 170 breaks in large and small lines throughout the parish, including 35 main lines. </p><p>Those main pipes are responsible for the bulk of water flow from Houma to the less-populated parts of Terrebonne Parish.</p>